LIVID Liverpool fans appear to have brought the club's future to crisis point.

LIVID Liverpool fans appear to have brought the club's future to crisis point.

The Kop faithful showed on Monday night their dislike of the American owners who are battling to retain control of the Anfield outfit.

And their bitter reaction during the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa could have a telling influence on the futures of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

With city sources claiming that the American co-owners have hit a hitch in their bid for a restructuring of their loan agreement with the banks, the battle for Anfield would seem to have reached a key moment.

Such was the animosity towards them against Villa it is hard to see - due to security reasons - how they can ever appear again in the Anfield directors'box.

And there was even talk at Anfield of the stadium plans having to be delayed again, such is the lack of cash.

Dubai International Capital (DIC) are believed to be standing by with a £350million offer.

The speculation about the club's future has been growing despite Hicks releasing a statement on Sunday.

He insisted he remained "fully committed" to his role as Liverpool co-owner, denying he has been involved in discussions with DIC over selling his stake.

It read: "I have not received any offer to purchase the club from the DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer. Nor do I have any intention of doing so.

"Whoever is behind this false report, the facts are that I and my family have always been, and remain, fully committed to co-owning the club."

Liverpool's next league match is at West Ham on January 30 - by then Hicks and Gillett may have had to accept a bid to buy the club.

Under-pressure boss Rafael Benitez will hope by then to see his side safely into the FA Cup fifth round, with non-league Havant and Waterlooville next up at Anfield on Saturday.

Commenting on the draw with Villa, Benitez said: "Nobody can say that the players do not want to try, they certainly do.

"It is difficult for me to explain how I feel, you know my English. But I am very, very disappointed. Especially because you can see how the fans react.

"They are magnificent to the team, to me, and we owe them some good games and some good victories.

"Now we have a cup tie with a non-league team, it will be a great occasion for everyone but maybe we can score some goals to give us confidence."

Benitez is aware that skipper Steven Gerrard has blamed the off-pitch crisis for Liverpool's fading form.

The Villa draw means they have thrown away 15 points at home this season and won just four of 11 matches there.

Liverpool are now in fifth place, two points behind neighbours Everton with a game in hand. The teams clash at Anfield on March 29 in what could become a showdown for the fourth Champions League slot.

Benitez remains fully behind his players, adding: "We were better than Villa, creating chances and should have killed the game.

"If you are not creating chances, then something is wrong. But we are creating them so we must work out why we are not finishing games off.